Updated 1.53pm
A POLICE OFFICER has died following a shooting in Paris, while another person remains critical in hospital.
Authorities have now declared the incident as a terrorist act.
The incident comes on a day of mourning in France after Islamist gunmen stormed the office of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday, killing eight journalists, two police and two others.
There are also reports of attacks on several mosques.
The attack in Paris took place earlier this morning between the towns of Montrouge and Malakoff.
Police have confirmed that a city employee was injured.
It is believed a man, who wore a bullet proof vest and used a machine gun, was involved in attack.
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the shooter and another man involved are now on the run.
Sources had told AFP earlier this morning that suspect had been arrested.
According to reports, the incident may have first began with a minor car crash, and escalated when police arrived at the scene.
A security official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing, said it was too early to draw any connection between today’s and yesterday’s shooting
Local media are reporting an explosion near a mosque in the village of Villefranche-sur-Saone.
The blast happened at a kebab shop, and is being treated as a ‘criminal attack’ according to local officials.
Le Progres quotes the town’s mayor as saying he is concern over its proximity to a mosque, saying it may be linked to yesterday’s Charlie Hebdo attack.
The explosion took place at roughly 6am local time, and there are no reports of any injuries.
Ouest-France reports that grenades were thrown into the courtyard of a mosque in Le Mans, one of which exploded. No one was injured.
France’s main Islamic groups urged Muslims across the country to observe a minute of silence and for imams to condemn terrorism in the wake of the massacre at the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine.
The groups called on “Muslim citizens of France to observe a minute of silence today at midday, along with the rest of the nation, in memory of the victims of terrorism.”
In the Port-la-Nouvelle district near Narbonne in southern France, several shots were fired in the direction of a Muslim prayer hall shortly after evening prayers. The hall was empty, the local prosecutor said.
More on this as we have it. Additional reporting by AFP and The Associated Press
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